Development and assessment of fusarium oxysporum-based mycoherbicide for control of Striga Hermonthica in sorghum |
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| Authors: | N. Nekouam P. S. Marley A. M. Emechebe A. D. Akpa |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Crop Protection , Faculty of Agriculture/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, Nigeria N.nekoum@yahoo.com;3. Department of Crop Protection , Faculty of Agriculture/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, Nigeria;4. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) , Kano, Nigeria |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Experiments were carried out from 2002 to 2003 to determine the most suitable form of fungal delivery for possible use by farmers in biological control of Striga hermonthica. Six mycoherbicides were developed, based on Fusarium oxysporum isolated from wilted S. hermonthica. In mycoherbicide formulation, rock phosphate powder, sorghum bran and gum arabic powder were used as carriers. Besides its role as a carrier, gum arabic powder was used as a sticker. There were three carriers with two formulations each, making six treatments altogether. Living propagule studies were based on colony, mycelium and conidium number of F. oxysporum. In greenhouse evaluation of mycoherbicides, each kg sorghum seed was coated with 10 g mycoherbicide before sowing. Carrier rock phosphate powder with gum arabic powder as a sticking agent was the most suitable form of its delivery for use by peasant farmers. |
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| Keywords: | Biological control carrier delivery evaluation farmers mycoherbicides sorghum Striga hermonthica |
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